Historical evolution

The School of Music at Southwest University was formerly known as the Music Department of the former National Women's Normal University, established in 1940. In 1950, Southwest Normal University was established with the establishment of the Music Department, which began admitting undergraduate majors in music. From 1963 to 1980, it was renamed as the Department of Music and Chinese Language and Literature, admitting dual majors, and later restored its original name. Obtained the right to confer a Master's degree in Music in 1984. In 1996, it developed into the School of Music of Southwest Normal University, and in July 2005, it was renamed as the School of Music of Southwest University.

Professional settings

The college currently has three undergraduate majors: musicology (including public funded teacher training), music performance, and dance. Among them, musicology was selected as one of the first national first-class undergraduate major construction sites in 2019, and music performance was selected as the seventh batch of national characteristic majors in 2011. There are authorization points for master's degree of music and dance as the first level discipline and professional degree of master of arts, among which music and dance is the key (first level) discipline in Chongqing. We also recruit doctoral students in music psychology.

The college currently has more than 10 art practice platforms, including symphony orchestras, ethnic music choirs, folk orchestras, and dance troupes. Each band has implemented a four-year consistent art practice curriculum management system and has embarked on a development direction of professional and project-based operation. Since 2005, the College Symphony Orchestra and the Folk Orchestra have served as the performing orchestra of the "Elegant Art Entering Campus" of three national ministries for consecutive years. The Symphony Orchestra successfully performed its "90th Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party of China" at the National Grand Theatre in 2011. In 2012, it was awarded the honorary title of "Chongqing Youth Symphony Orchestra" by the Propaganda Department of the Chongqing Municipal Party Committee and the Municipal Education Commission. The college has been awarded the title of "National Patriotic Classic Art Education Demonstration Base for Universities" by the Ministry of Education.

teaching staff

The college currently has 76 full-time teachers, including 6 professors, 19 associate professors, 2 doctoral supervisors, 21 master's supervisors, 23 teachers with doctoral degrees and diplomas as performers, 35 overseas returnees and those with overseas study experience. It employs Dan Goble from Colorado State University in the United States, German composer Granzin Rainer, singers Li Danyang and Sun Weiliang, and musician Yang Heping, 16 renowned domestic and foreign experts and scholars, including harp performer Lu Lu, are visiting (part-time) professors.

personnel training

The college has a clear educational direction and strict educational quality, cultivating a large number of outstanding talents engaged in education, research, performance, and management in various primary and secondary schools, performing arts groups, and cultural and artistic institutions. Students have repeatedly achieved excellent results in important competitions such as the China Music Golden Bell Award, the National College Student Art Exhibition, the National Undergraduate Student Basic Skills Competition in Musicology (Teacher Education), and other domestic and foreign professional competitions at all levels. Currently, there are over 860 full-time undergraduate students and over 150 master's students studying. The completion rate of training is over 95%, and the employment rate of graduates is over 93%.

Foreign exchange

The college actively carries out international cooperation and exchanges, and conducts academic visits, exchange studies, and exchange performances with multiple higher education institutions in countries such as the United States, Italy, Canada, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Finland, and Russia. We have reached a training agreement with Colorado State University in the United States for a "2+2 undergraduate dual degree" and a "1+1+1 master's degree in music performance" program, jointly cultivating students in three majors: musicology, music performance, and dance. Every year, multiple foreign experts, scholars, and artists are invited to give lectures, conduct master class lectures, and hold concerts, and a summer international course week is organized.